We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a self-contained wired headset that delivers virtual 7.1 surround sound plus a vibration bass driver straight out of the box, choose TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1; if you need a desk stand that holds your existing headphones while adding 7.1 surround processing, RGB lighting and extra USB/AUX ports, choose EKSA Headphone Stand.
• TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1 — biggest strength: It's a complete over-ear gaming headset with virtual 7.1 surround, an extra vibration driver for amplified bass, and a Dirac-tuned audio path — you plug in one USB cable and you're gaming.
• TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1 — biggest trade-off: It's wired and USB-only, it won't work with Xbox One, and the 7.1 effect requires a driver download from TRITTON's site — you can't just plug and play the surround layer.
• EKSA Headphone Stand — biggest strength: It's a dual-purpose desk accessory: an aluminum tower that organizes your headset plus a hub with two USB 2.0 ports and three 3.5mm ports (mic + sound 2-in-1, sound, mic) that can feed virtual 7.1 to compatible headphones via its driver.
• EKSA Headphone Stand — biggest trade-off: It's not a headset — you supply the headphones. Its 7.1 driver is unavailable for Mac and Windows 8, not all headphones are compatible with the surround effect, and setup involves some assembly and a software install.
• Who each is for: TRITTON for the gamer who wants one cable, one device, and surround-ready audio tonight; EKSA for the gamer who already loves their headphones and wants a cleaner desk with surround processing, lighting and extra ports.
The Kunai Pro 7.1 is built around a single idea: put you inside the soundstage. Its virtual 7.1 surround is designed to create distance and depth, so footsteps, reloads and callouts carry positional cues rather than sitting flat in a two-channel mix. The extra vibration driver layers in amplified deep bass — a physical thump that pairs with the surround effect and makes explosions and impacts feel weightier than a standard dynamic driver alone, which is exactly the kind of feedback that helps in shooters and action games. The dynamic drivers span 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, covering the full audible range in a single over-ear unit.
Buy it if you want an all-in-one wired headset and you're willing to download the driver from TRITTON's official site to unlock the 7.1 function — that step is explicitly required, so budget five minutes for it. Skip it if you're on Xbox One, if you refuse to run manufacturer software, or if you need wireless freedom.
EKSA Headphone Stand: Who It's For
The EKSA W1 is a different kind of product entirely, and it's worth being clear about that before you compare. It's a headphone stand first: a tower built from aluminum alloy with a non-slip ABS rubber base, sized at roughly 5 x 2 x 2 inches, designed to lift your headset off the desk, protect it from wear and tear, and keep the surface uncluttered. It's a modern, gaming-themed desk piece, and it's positioned as a gift for gamers as much as a tool.
Then there's the hub side. Two USB 2.0 ports support USB headphones and handle charging and data transfer. Three 3.5mm ports cover a microphone-and-sound 2-in-1 jack, a standalone sound jack, and a standalone mic jack — so headsets with 3.5mm audio jacks plug straight in. And the headline feature: virtual 7.1 surround sound, delivered through an EKSA driver you download and install from the official site. That surround processing runs over the USB ports or the 3.5mm jacks, and its purpose is positional — recognizing the direction an enemy is coming from. Two caveats matter. First, the driver isn't available for Mac or Windows 8. Second, not all headphones are compatible with the 7.1 effect, so your existing headset may only get the stand, ports and lighting. Setup also involves a small assembly step: align the bracket's screw holes with the base, seat all four screws before tightening each one, and tighten with the included screwdriver. A spare screw is included in the bag.
The RGB base adds three lighting modes — a rainbow loop, a single static color, and a breathing mode — switched with a fingerprint-touch key that also turns the lighting off entirely. Buy it if you already own headphones you like, you're on Windows (not 8) and want a tidier desk with extra ports and ambient lighting. Skip it if you game on Mac, if you want zero setup, or if you actually need a new headset — this isn't one.
• Best for surround sound gaming right out of the box → TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1, because the headset and its 7.1 processing ship as one wired unit (driver download still required).
• Best for using headphones you already own → EKSA Headphone Stand, which adds 7.1 processing, USB and AUX connectivity without replacing your headset.
• Best for bass-heavy immersion → TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1, thanks to its dedicated extra vibration driver for amplified deep bass.
• Best for desk organization and cable management → EKSA Headphone Stand, an aluminum tower with a non-slip base that keeps your headset off the desk.
• Best for extra connectivity → EKSA Headphone Stand, with two USB 2.0 ports plus three 3.5mm jacks (mic + sound 2-in-1, sound, mic).
• Best for comfort over long sessions → TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1, with memory foam over-ear cups, an adjustable headband and a 240 g weight.
• Best for console gaming → TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1, compatible with PS4 and PS3 (neither product supports Xbox One; EKSA's surround driver is Windows-only and excludes Windows 8).
• Best for a console-plus-desk setup → EKSA Headphone Stand, since its lighting, ports and stand work independently of any one headset.
In my opinion, the deciding question isn't which is "better" — they solve different problems. If you need a headset, buy the TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1. It's a complete, lightweight over-ear solution with virtual 7.1, a vibration bass driver, memory foam comfort and on-cable volume and mute controls, and it works across PC, Mac and PlayStation. I'd only steer you to the EKSA W1 if you're happy with the headphones you already own and want surround processing, extra ports and RGB lighting wrapped into a desk stand. For a pure surround-sound gaming upgrade, TRITTON is my pick.
is surround sound headphones good for gaming
Yes — in my opinion it's one of the more useful features for competitive and immersive play. Virtual 7.1 is designed to create distance and depth so you can judge direction, which is exactly why the TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1 and the EKSA W1's surround mode both emphasize positional awareness and identifying where an enemy is coming from.
is 7.1 surround sound good for gaming headphones
It depends on the implementation and the setup. Both products here generate virtual 7.1 rather than discrete multi-driver surround, and both require a driver download to activate it. The TRITTON headset ships with 7.1 built into the headset itself, while the EKSA stand pushes 7.1 through its USB or 3.5mm ports to compatible headphones.
do gaming headphones have surround sound
Not all of them — it's a feature, not a default. The TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1 does include virtual 7.1 surround, but you must download the driver from TRITTON's official site to enable the "7.1" function. On the EKSA side, the stand provides the surround processing, and not all headphones are compatible with it.
is surround sound good for gaming headphones on Mac
For the TRITTON Kunai Pro 7.1, yes — it's compatible with Mac and the 7.1 function is unlocked via the driver download. For the EKSA W1, no — its 7.1 surround driver is not available for Mac (or Windows 8), so Mac users would get the stand, ports and RGB lighting but not the surround processing.
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See also: EKSA Headphone Stand vs Faifxo Gaming Earbuds in-Ear, SIMOLIO Kids vs MANMUVIMO MAMUVIMO Headphone Stand, KAFRI RGB Headphone Stand vs Luckit Gaming Headphones Stand